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MEN’S BASKETBALL COMPLETES SUCCESSFUL SEASON
Our men’s basketball team took us on quite a ride this year. Even though it ended earlier than we all would have liked, the 2013-14 team accomplished so much under head coach Sean Miller and the future continues to look bright. As I see it, it isn’t if we’ll make the Final Four under Coach Miller, but when.
This year’s team started 21-0, which was both the longest winning streak and the best start to a season in program history. We spent eight weeks ranked No. 1, which is the longest consecutive string in school history. Despite losing an excellent player in Brandon Ashley midway through the conference season, the ‘Cats went on to win their second Pac-12 Championship in the last four years, while earning the No. 1 seed in the west region for the NCAA Tournament before falling to Wisconsin in the Elite 8.
Looking ahead, a number of our student-athletes will be making the decision on whether to remain at Arizona or enter the NBA Draft. They’ll have the opportunity to receive feedback from the NBA and coach Miller and his staff are available to answer any questions that may arise. Like we do with all of our student-athletes, we try to provide them with the most credible information possible so they can make an informed decision about their future.
Regardless of their decision, we will encourage each student-athlete to continue to work on earning their degree. Coach Miller has graduated every player who has exhausted his eligibility at Arizona. In addition, we’ve recently had 13 players who have either returned to finish their degree, are currently working on their degrees, or have taken classes at some point after they left early. We want the current players to make a decision that is best for both him and his family, but we hope that decision includes a plan that will allow them to further their education.
We’ll have a better feel for the make-up of the roster after the NBA Draft process is completed. Either way, the mix of experienced returnees and talented newcomers should put Arizona back in the conversation for a strong 2014-15 season. After selling out 14-of-18 home games last year, we’d encourage everyone that wants to be a part of next season in McKale to sign-up for season tickets now. You can get on the request list by clicking here or call (520) 621-CATS (2287).
REMEMBERING RAY MARTINEZ
Arizona Athletics and the Tucson community lost a dear friend last week with the passing of former Wildcat Club staffer Ray Martinez. Ray had been battling multiple sclerosis for much of the last five years, but remained a strong supporter of the Wildcats, whether in the stands or in the statisticians booth at football games.
Longtime friend Jay Gonzales has set up a Facebook page to share photos and memories of Ray. If you’d like to visit the page, click here. Our deepest condolences go out to Ray’s family and friends.
WILLIAM DAVID SITTON FIELD
By now, I think most of you know about Dave Sitton’s love for rugby and his involvement in the UA’s club rugby program prior to his passing last fall. Now, not only does the TV broadcasters booth in Arizona Stadium bear his name, so does the former Cherry Field. Last Saturday, prior to the UA’s match with our rivals, Cherry Field was renamed and dedicated as William David Sitton Field. It is a fitting tribute to the man that led the rugby program for almost 40 years. Appropriately, the Wildcats went on to defeat the Sun Devils later that day, 51-38, surely bringing a smile to Dave’s face.
TICKET TO SUCCESS TOUR
Tomorrow morning I’m scheduled to meet with the employees of Simpleview on the first stop of our “Ticket to Success Tour.” I’m trying to meet with as many Southern Arizona businesses and/or community organizations as my schedule will allow. The idea is to present a state of the University of Arizona athletics department, educate the community on the importance of a full Arizona Stadium on football gamedays and make sure everyone is aware of our new pricing structure for football tickets. As I’ve mentioned before, our entry-level season ticket price is now $99. It’s only $50 for kids 12 and under. These are the lowest entry-level prices in the Pac-12. You can purchase those tickets online now by clicking here.
The Ticket to Success Tour will be a fun way to interact with our fan base and local business leaders. I’ll be making stops from now until the beginning of football season. If you oversee a business and/or community organization in Southern Arizona and you’re interested in being a part of the Ticket to Success tour, please e-mailbchulick@arizona.edu or call 520-621-3547.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Everyone knows that Arizona is Wildcat Country, and it’s time to remind our fans around the state that we truly mean it with the 2014 Arizona Road Tour (#AZRoadTour14). Make your plans to join us and meet Coach Miller, Coach Rodriguez, Coach Butts and other coaches, pending availability, along with me and the Arizona Alumni Association. Dates and locations can be found below. Look for more information coming soon with exact times and locations in each city.
Tempe – Wednesday, May 7
Tubac – Thursday, May 15
Pinetop – Wednesday, May 28
?, AZ – Thursday, May 29*
* - ?, AZ is our campaign for you, the fans, to tell us why we should make your city the last stop on the 2014 Arizona Road Tour. Email us at arizonawildcats11@gmail.com or tweet @Greg_Byrne or @AZATHLETICS with a photo, video or a “Top 10” countdown by Friday, April 25 letting us know why your city deserves the final stop on the tour. Be creative and show your passion with the submissions. The city with the best ?, AZ campaign will get a visit from the Arizona Road Tour!
SOFTBALL BACK AT HILLENBRAND
The 10th-ranked softball team will host No. 24 Stanford in a three-game series at Hillenbrand Stadium starting Friday. Friday’s game starts at 6 p.m. and it’s a “whiteout.” The first 500 fans will receive white pom poms from Hughes Federal Credit Union. Make sure to wear white to the game. Saturday’s game starts at 6 p.m. and it’s “Think Pink – Breast Cancer Awareness Night.” Sets of pink-themed eye black, courtesy of UAMC, will be given to the first 500 fans. Sunday’s series finale starts at noon. Buy your tickets online by clicking here.
LIVE LIKE LEZO 5K
We’d like to encourage everyone who is available to help us honor the life of Lezo Urreiztieta, the UA hurdler who passed away in December, by participating in the Live Like Lezo 5K on April 27. Registration is only $15 and includes a t-shirt and wristband. The deadline to register is Sunday, April 6, so click here to register now. The race will begin at 10 a.m. in front of McKale Center’s Hall of Champions with check-in starting at 9 a.m. If you are unable to attend, but would like to purchase a wristband, you can do so by clicking here. All proceeds will go to the Lezo Urreiztieta Endowed Scholarship Fund.
SUPER WILDCAT WEEKEND IS A WEEK AWAY
I’m excited about all of the upcoming events as part of Super Wildcat Weekend (April 10-13). The anchor event is our annual spring football game on Saturday, April 12. Due to the Lowell-Stevens Football Facility construction, we’ve had to host the spring game offsite the last two years. I know Coach Rodriguez and our team are looking forward to being back in Arizona Stadium. The spring game starts at 1 p.m. and it’s preceded by the A-Club Celebrity Flag Football game at 11:15 a.m. There’s also track and field, baseball and men’s tennis events throughout the weekend, parties for our letterwinners and our first ever Movie Night at the stadium. Make sure to visit ArizonaWildcats.com/SWW for details.
A-CLUB LETTERWINNERS CELEBRITY FOOTBALL GAME
With just over two weeks until Super Wildcat Weekend, the A-Club would like to make you aware of our inaugural Celebrity Football Game. Prior to the Arizona Football Spring Game, we will host a 7-on-7 flag football game played on a 40 yard field inside Arizona Stadium. It will feature alumni letterwinners from the Arizona football, swimming and diving, track and field, softball, tennis and women’s basketball programs.
The teams will be coached by alumni letterwinners LaMonte Hunley (football ’84), and John Fina (football ’91). Team rosters will be announced on Wednesday, April 9. The game is scheduled for Saturday, April 12 at 11:15 a.m. at Arizona Stadium. Admission is FREE and gates will open at 11:00 a.m.
SWIMMING & DIVING FINISHES IN TOP 10 AT NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
Swimming and diving capped another successful season with the men’s team finishing seventh at the NCAA Championships and the women’s team taking eighth. Junior Kevin Cordes, who was recently named Pac-12 Swimmer of the Year, shattered his own American, U.S. Open, NCAA and school records in the 100 breast and 200 breast as he successfully defended his titles in both events at the NCAA Championships. Cordes posted an incredible 50.04 in the 100 breast, breaking his previous record of 50.70 from December. Cordes closed the 200 breast with a winning time of 1:48.66. That swim bettered his previous mark by .02 as he won last year's title with a 1:48.68. That gives Cordes the top six times all time. Meanwhile, competing in just his second competition of the year, Brad Tandy earned a title in the 50 free.
Meanwhile, Margo Geer defended her NCAA 100 freestyle championship at the national meet, finishing ahead of Olympian Missy Franklin to lead the Arizona women. Geer also swam a 46.86 to lead off the 400-free relay, which is the second-fastest time in American history.
PAINTING THE NATION WITH WILDCAT CLUB MEMBERS
We launched this year’s Wildcat Movement campaign two weeks ago and are making great progress! In terms of people who signed up specifically through our www.wildcatmovement.com page, we’ve had individuals representing 12 different states join so far (states pictured below in red).
We’re looking to have representation from each state (and still want to increase membership in the states where we already have members). To help us paint the nation red and reach our goal of 12,000 Wildcat Club members, click here! Donations of $100 or more (or $9 a month) qualify you as a Wildcat Club member and directly impact Arizona student-athletes.
ASK THE ATHLETICS DIRECTOR
We’re collecting questions and topics to address in Wildcat Wednesday and we’d like to encourage everyone to continue sending items. We don’t expect to be able to answer every question or address every topic, but we’ll do our best to pick items that seem most important to the readers and write about them in the space above. If you have something you think might make a good question or topic, please email it to uofaad@arizona.edu.
COMPLIANCE CORNER
With the college basketball season coming to a close, we thought it would be a good opportunity to discuss declaring for the NBA draft, which is the potential next step for some of our athletes. Current student-athletes in all sports may contact professional organizations regarding their eligibility for the draft or request information regarding their market value without affecting their amateur status.
For a men’s basketball student-athlete, he can put his name on the draft list without losing his eligibility provided he removes his name from the draft list prior to the regular NLI signing period that begins on April 14. If the student-athlete does not remove his name by this date, then he is no longer eligible to participate in college athletics. Additionally, if the student-athlete declares for the draft after this date, then he is likewise no longer eligible to participate in college athletics.
ARIZONA NUGGETS
Women’s Tennis’ Lauren Marker picked up the biggest win of her young career against Cal, defeating No. 14 Zsofi Susanyi in straight sets … Men’s basketball’s Nick Johnson is still heading to Dallas for a ceremony honoring the finalists for the Naismith Award. Johnson will also head to Los Angeles to be recognized as a finalist for the Wooden Award … Track & Field’s Julie Labonté won the discus and shot put at the ASU Invitational to earn Pac-12 Field Athlete of the Week honors.
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
Here is a look at this week’s Arizona Athletics events (Home events in BOLD). All times are listed as Mountain Standard Time. To purchase tickets for home events, click here. To access live stats from your desktop or mobile device, visit ArizonaLiveStats.com.
Thursday
No Events Scheduled
Friday
7:00 a.m.: Women’s Golf at PING/ASU Invitational (at Tempe, Ariz.)
11:00 a.m.: Baseball at Utah
11:00 a.m.: Sand Volleyball vs. Irvine Valley College/LBSU (at Irvine, Calif.)
11:30 a.m.: Men’s Tennis at Washington (TV: Pac-12 Networks)
1:30 p.m.: Women’s Tennis vs. Utah
6:00 p.m.: Softball vs. Stanford
Saturday
7:00 a.m.: Women’s Golf at PING/ASU Invitational (at Tempe, Ariz.)
11:00 a.m.: Baseball at Utah
12:00 p.m.: Women’s Tennis vs. Colorado
1:00 p.m.: Track & Field at Oregon (TV: Pac-12 Networks)
1:30 p.m.: Men’s Tennis at Oregon
6:00 p.m.: Softball vs. Stanford
Sunday
7:00 a.m.: Women’s Golf at PING/ASU Invitational (at Tempe, Ariz.)
11:00 a.m.: Baseball at Utah
12:00 p.m.: Softball vs. Stanford
Monday
7:30 a.m.: Men’s Golf at Redhawk Invitational (at University Place, Wash.)
Tuesday
7:30 a.m.: Men’s Golf at Redhawk Invitational (at University Place, Wash.)
Wednesday
6:30 p.m.: Baseball at Arizona St.
PHOTO SUBMISSIONS
Each week, our marketing and media relations staff selects photos for our ‘Wear the Colors’ section out of the large number that are submitted each week. We’ve actually had weeks when over 100 photos were submitted. We include photos from donors, alumni, fans, really anyone who wants to submit. Because we can’t include every submission in the Wildcat Wednesday, we’ve decided to re-implement our Wildcat Wednesday photo album on Facebook with the goal of sharing as many submissions as possible. Thank you so much for sharing your photos with us. We love that the colors are worn all over the world and we’re glad we can share them with the rest of the fan base … keep them coming!
WEAR THE COLORS – SHARE THE PHOTOS
Thank you for wearing the colors and sharing your Arizona pride! If your photo submission did not make this week’s edition of the Wildcat Wednesday, please check our “Wildcat Wednesday” album at facebook.com/ArizonaAthletics.
NOTE: Please submit photos for Wildcat Wednesday with an original email to uofaad@arizona.edu using the subject line ‘Wildcat Wednesday photo.’ Also, please ensure all submissions are clear and properly lit. We also ask that you identify everyone in the photo so we can highlight them accordingly.
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